Opposite Attraction

By Bernadette Marie

Curtis Keller is a lucky man. He has the love and support of a family like no other. But he'd never fallen in love with a woman. He liked to play the field, have a good time, and enjoyed friends with benefits. But when wild child Simone Pierpont comes into his life for the first time he considered settling down—that was until she stranded him.
Simone Pierpont fell in love. She hadn't meant to, but her best friend's brother-in-law had treated the Parisian oil heiress with more compassion than she'd ever known. What was she to do? So she left him stranded on a yacht in the French Rivera.
Now, cut off from her father's fortune, a pregnant, and desperate to win Curtis's hear; Simone must prove to everyone she can hold down a job and take care of herself. Curtis isn't sure the princess can change, but because of his caring nature he has a hard time turning her away.
However, all efforts might be for not when he learns about her pregnancy and she is forced to run back to her father. But Curtis will eventually understand and come for her—or so she hopes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
• Release date: Aug 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452475806

Bernadette Marie

Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always...and says she can write it because she lives it.Obsessed with the art of writing and the business of publishing, chronic entrepreneur Bernadette Marie established her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, in 2011 to bring her own work to market as well as offer an opportunity for fresh voices in fiction to find a home as well.When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Champagne flowed, again.

His brother had married, again.

Curtis Keller knew this marriage would last, this time, but he wondered if he’d ever love again.

He sipped from his glass and watched his brother, Carlos, dance with the only woman he’d ever truly loved. His Madeline.

Curtis leaned up against the pillar of his sister Regan’s porch and watched as couples danced with the bride and groom in the garden. He gave a little chuckle to himself. Carlos and Madeline had been young when they’d first married. No one ever saw it coming, the day Carlos announced that he and Madeline were getting divorced.

She’d gone on and remarried. It had taken Carlos five years to finally remarry, but that had lasted less than a day. Now here they all were celebrating their second marriage, to each other.

Curtis tipped his glass in a toast when Madeline glanced his way. She was a glorious sight, and as a doctor, as well as her dear friend, he was happy for her. Only a year earlier she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. But with a full head of chestnut hair swinging at her shoulders, compliments of his sister Arianna’s extensive wig collection, no one would have ever known that only months earlier Carlos had shaved off all of her natural hair.

His nephews and niece danced among them. His brother-in-law, Zach, danced with his own mother and Curtis’ parents hadn’t missed a song all night. In the middle of the dance floor was his older sister, Arianna, and her date from Carlos’ last wedding, and Zach’s right hand man in his construction company, John Forrester. They seemed comfortable, as comfortable as you could be with a set-up-date.

As for him, he was happy to watch. The memory of his date at Carlos’ last wedding, still burned in his gut. Tonight he didn’t have an escort, and that was just how he wanted it.

His sister Regan slid up next to him, a glass of champagne in her hand. You look lost in thought.

He scanned a look over her. Are you supposed to be drinking that?

I won’t tell if you don’t.

He shook his head. Expectant mothers aren’t supposed to drink.

She nudged him. Well the expectant father said I could have just a little sip, and since the expectant brother is sleeping, I’m not going to worry about it. She lifted the glass to her lips and drank the bubbly drink. Curtis grabbed her hand and she laughed. It’s sparkling cider. I made sure we had plenty for the kids. She laughed as Curtis settled back against the pillar.

Regan was a wonder to him. There she stood a happy woman married to the man of her dreams. Their son was almost a year old and she was weeks into her second pregnancy. Only he and her husband Zach knew about the baby. She was waiting until after the wedding to announce that she was expecting. She hadn’t wanted to take away from the celebration happening around them.

Regan shifted her glance from the dance floor back to him. You don’t seem to be having as much fun at this wedding.

You didn’t arrange a date for me this time either.

With a slow nod, Regan sipped from the drink, and then handed him her glass. I’m going to go steal my husband away from his mother.

Curtis watched her do just that and he retreated to the kitchen before Zach’s mother, Audrey, caught him and begged him to dance.

Caterers moved about the house and Curtis fixed himself a plate of fruit. He’d be happier in the kitchen he decided. The reception was depressing him.

When he lifted his head from the platters of food, he saw the reason it depressed him standing right in front of him.

Hello, Curtis. Simone Pierpont’s French accent stabbed right into his heart before he choked on the grape he’d just swallowed whole.

He coughed until he could breathe. Her eyes never wavered from him and he was sure they had bored a hole right through him.

Simone. I didn’t expect you here.

She twisted her fingers together and smiled nervously. I’ve been out of town.

Didn’t he know that? He’d tried for the past two months to find her. Even his brother-in-law, Zach, who she claimed was her very dearest friend, hadn’t known where to find her.

You’re looking well. He wasn’t sure what else to say. He’d been dumped by women before, but it had never hurt like this one did. Oh, she’d had him fooled. Yes, he thought there’d been a chance for something real. He’d thought it was love.

But he had to acknowledge that there were women in the world who appreciated the art of seduction and fast steamy love affairs without stings just as men did. He just never thought he’d be the man who was used and disposed of.

Damn her anyway, he thought.

She took a step toward him and then stopped just short of reaching him. Her knuckles were white now and her nervousness wasn’t helping him keep calm.

Simone bit down on her lip then shifted her blue eyes to his. I would have called…

Listen, he set down his plate. You don’t owe me any explanations. Zach and Regan set us up to share the evening together so we wouldn’t be alone. They didn’t tell us to, he lowered his voice, screw like rabbits and run off to your yacht in the French Riviera. So we had a good time. Really, who thought much of it? He had and he fought his eyes to make sure she didn’t know how much he’d thought of it.

Right. It was just sex. I was hoping you would understand that.

Got it. He picked up his plate. Well I think I’ll go see how the party is going. See ya ‘round.

CHAPTER 2

That wasn’t exactly how Simone had hoped that would go. She untangled her fingers realizing they were almost numb now.

Curtis deserved to treat her like that. She’d been very forthcoming with him, over too much champagne on her yacht, that she’d bedded many men. Why she felt he needed to know that, she wasn’t sure. She’d left out the hefty part of the tale though. Most of those men had been in her bed while she tried to wrap her head around the fact that Zachary Benson, Curtis’ brother-in-law, had never seen her as more than a sister or dear friend.

Lucky for her, she loved him the same. She was glad he and Regan had found each other and now had a family. But that hadn’t changed her view on herself. Simone Pierpont longed for what Zach now had. Love, marriage, and a family. One piece didn’t really fit without the other.

She sucked in a breath. Had she not made such an ass out of herself in front of Curtis, and then run off without a word, stranding him on the Rivera to find his own way home, perhaps she’d have just that.

Simone ran her hands over the slim satin line of her dress, lingering only a moment on her jittery stomach.

Well, she thought, at least she’d have some of what Zach had.

Curtis lifted a glass of champagne from the tray as he walked out into the garden. He drank it down fast, the bubbles shooting straight into his head. As another waiter passed, he set it down and lifted another. He wasn’t on call at the hospital for another two days, he’d surely be fine with a few more glasses, especially now that Simone Pierpont had joined the party.

She’d made her way out of the house he noticed. She stood wrapped in his brother-in-law’s arms as his own sister looked on lovingly. What an idiot he’d been thinking that it was wise to have whisked her away that night. They’d taken their first tumble right there behind the house.

He drank down that glass of champagne. In all his life, that hadn’t been his style. What in the hell had he been thinking?

There lay the problem. He hadn’t been thinking. Not with his head anyway. He hadn’t even realized his brother had been dumped the next morning by his new wife and sent off to find his ex-wife. No, he’d fled the country on that damned lovely yacht with a near perfect woman only to come home and find his brother cuddled on his mother’s couch with the woman he’d once been married to. Talk about a shock to the system.

He knew there was trouble headed his way when he saw all three of them shift their heads and look at him. Quickly, he finished the glass of champagne and blew out a breath as he tried to focus on Zach walking to him. Things were becoming a bit fuzzy.

Regan wants me to go in and check on Tyler. Why don’t you walk with me.

It wasn’t an invitation, Curtis realized, but a request. He followed Zach up the stairs to the small room where his nephew slept. Zach poked his head in and came back with a smile.

She’s a bit paranoid with all these people here, but he’s fine.

Good, Curtis said quickly and turned for his retreat.

Why don’t we go down to the study and have a drink. Zach walked down the stairs and Curtis reluctantly followed. He wasn’t sure another drink was a good idea, and when Zach shut the door he wasn’t sure being in the same room with the man was either.

Zach moved to the liquor cabinet and pulled open the doors. I got a new bottle of whiskey last week from Ireland. A business associate sent it to me. What do you say?

Curtis swallowed the words he really was thinking and gave his brother-in-law a nod.

Zach poured them each two fingers full and handed Curtis a sniffer.

To Carlos and Madeline.

To them, Curtis said as he threw back his drink and then blew out a fiery breath. Certainly, it was going to take the next two days off work to sober up.

Good stuff. Zach looked in his glass. Want another?

No. That came out quickly enough he thought. He needed to sit, but Zach was walking around the room as if he needed to talk. Curtis tried to hold on to the ground with his feet firmly planted, but the room was beginning to tilt.

Zach sat on the edge of his desk. I was surprised to see Simone here tonight, weren’t you?

Curtis shrugged. Your house. Your friend.

She sure is. My dearest friend in the world. Zach nodded and then turned his eyes up to him. She seems a little nervous to be here. She’s never been nervous.

He shrugged again, but when his shoulders fell he decided he needed to make it to the couch before the room completely spun on him. Maybe she’s uneasy being here for another of Carlos’ weddings. The thought made him laugh. Two weddings in two months, was that a record or something?

Zach moved to the seat across from the couch where he’d landed and sat down. It seems to us she’s a little uneasy being around you.

In his current state, Curtis took that as an insult. It was fine if his sister and his brother-in-law thought more of some rich French girl than they did of him. Him, who saved lives every single day. Him, who on occasion, had been known to save his own sister’s life, but that wasn’t something anyone talked about anymore. Hell, he should be put on a back burner just because of the sexy, leggy, raven haired, blue eyed goddess who seemed to always show up unannounced. He completely understood why her uneasiness was a problem.

No, no he didn’t.

He tried to focus his eyes. How many glasses of champagne had he had before the whisky? Oh wait—with more thought, he, Carlos, and Zach had already had a few shots before the wedding. No wonder he couldn’t focus.

Zach sat back in his seat. So what went on between the two of you? Simone has never said, and Regan and I have only speculated.

Speculated? Who was Zach kidding? They’d disappeared together for two weeks. Even the hospital was speculating if he’d return.

Never in Curtis Keller’s entire life had he blown off responsibility as he had with Simone, but damn it had felt good. It felt good until he woke up on the yacht and she was gone.

The pattern in the carpet was making him dizzy. He looked up and tried desperately to focus on the bow tie of Zach’s tuxedo. I know she’s very special to you, but you don’t want details.

Zach smiled with a slow nod. You’re right, I don’t need details. She is very special. He looked around the room as if to make sure no one was there. If you don’t mind not telling her I said this, she’s a bit of a manizer. That seemed to strike Zach as funny and he laughed. You know, like a womanizer, only a manizer.

I got it. But it wasn’t funny to him. What about it?

Well we were afraid she dug her claws into you.

That would be an understatement as Curtis remembered it. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.

Good. She’s going to be staying here for a bit and we don’t want it to be awkward for you.

Curtis ran his tongue over his teeth and then did it again. His tongue was numb. I’ll be fine. I’ll be working lots of shifts at the hospital so I won’t be hanging around here too much. At least not anymore.

You’re okay with her?

Sure. Why wouldn’t he be? No reason to get worked up just because a woman used you for a quick romp. Really, he was more of a man than that.

Well I’d better get out to the guests. Feel free to hang here and rest your head.

Curtis acknowledged his generosity with a grunt as he tipped his head back on the couch.

CHAPTER 3

The house was quiet when Curtis finally pried open his eyes. Someone had laid a throw over him, Regan no doubt. His head was throbbing and his mouth was desert dry.

Curtis swung his feet to the floor and stood slowly. Perhaps the caterers had left something in the refrigerator. He could do with a sandwich on those senseless little rolls they had served.

He stumbled to the kitchen, swung open the refrigerator and the light illuminated the room. He winced and realized he’d heard a stifled gasp of someone sitting at the table.

Focused on the small figure at the table, he shut the door quickly. Thought I was alone.

I was hungry. Her face was coming into focus, but the accent alerted him to who the woman in the dark was. Simone stood and started toward him. I just came down for a little snack. Can I make you something?

He’d wanted to laugh as he wondered if she’d ever had to fend for herself in her life. That wasn’t fair. Obviously she’d made herself something to eat right there in the kitchen.

I’m fine. Go finish your snack.

You are angry with me.

You think? He stepped back from Simone as she approached. That expensive perfume, which had tangled with his senses the last time they stood in that kitchen, was playing games with his body again.

Curtis, I’m sorry. I meant you no harm. She moved closer to him in the dark. "Mon ami?"

Friends? Sure. He turned and reached into the cupboard for a glass. At the sink, he filled it with water and felt it land in his stomach. He hadn’t slept on that couch long enough to ward of the drunk he’d put on. Damn, he said under his breath.

Are you all right?

Just hadn’t planned on spending the night on my sister’s couch. I wanted to get home.

I would be happy to give you a ride.

He lifted a brow. You drove?

Simone cleared her throat. You would be pleased to know I have leased a car. I can drive.

Hmm, well ain’t that something.

He thought he knew